climbmda
Trail Ready!
Feelin' good is good enough.
Posts: 14
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Post by climbmda on Dec 1, 2016 12:33:06 GMT -8
Hi all... Former forumite who has found his way back to both BP'ing and the forum.
Our son is now 9 and able to do some real hikes. We want to introduce him to the mountains and to backpacking in the same stroke. He is now a canoe camping veteran in the BWCA, and has logged some real miles on the Superior Hiking Trail.
We are heading to Glacier next summer, and will primarily car camp, probably out of Many Glacier, since we are familiar with the area and love the day hikes. However, we want to get a permit for one of these options:
Option one: 5-8 mile hike into a campsite on water (preferably with good fishing and some side exploration options) where we can spend 2 nights and then hike back out.
Short loop (5-6 miles per day) with 2 campsites, ideally at least one with fishing (dad and kid both love to fish, and mom loves to eat what we catch). Could come out at the starting point, or at a shuttle stop.
Any suggestions or feedback are greatly appreciated.
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Post by hikerjer on Dec 1, 2016 17:40:27 GMT -8
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climbmda
Trail Ready!
Feelin' good is good enough.
Posts: 14
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Post by climbmda on Dec 2, 2016 5:57:32 GMT -8
Gunsight Lake, Lake Elizabeth, Coosely Lake. There many more but be aware that Glacier is not particularly known for it's fishing. This may help: Thanks. I actually had great success fishing from camp at ELF a few years back. Lots of trout and grayling if you are willing to wade out into cold water far enough to cast the drop off. I will definitely check out that book.
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Post by hikerjer on Dec 4, 2016 10:13:31 GMT -8
I actually had great success fishing from camp at ELF a few years back. [/quot You're obviously a better fisherman than me. But don't let that go to your head. It's not saying much. Good luck on stalking the wiley trout.
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Post by absarokanaut on Dec 6, 2016 5:52:41 GMT -8
Climbmda, Checkout the forum at backcountrypost.com. Look up joey, he has posted MANY Glcier Trips there.
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Post by markweth on Dec 7, 2016 12:38:28 GMT -8
From the Two Medicine Lake area, heading in to Old Man Lake (about 6 miles) and camping there might be a good option. Supposed to have decent fishing. You could camp both nights there, or hike about 8 miles over to No Name Lake and camp the next night there. Not sure if No Name Lake has fish or not, but I don't think it does. Really pretty lake, though.
If you do the loop it is the Dawson Pass to Pitamakin Pass Loop and it is around 16-18 miles total, with the option of taking a small tourist boat to/from the starting point if you time things right. So that's pretty neat, the view from the boat when it is on Two Medicine Lake is pretty breathtaking.
Really gorgeous hike, especially along the ridge between Dawson Pass and Pitamakin Pass.
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Post by Chuck the Mauler on Dec 7, 2016 18:52:18 GMT -8
joey has popped in and out here in the past few days. I know he has stayed at every site in the park. No joke, every site AND done more off-trail in the park than anyone I know. If he doesn't respond, try to send him a PM. I've been to the park twice, but can't help based on the question.
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joey
Trail Wise!
Posts: 39
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Post by joey on Dec 7, 2016 20:35:01 GMT -8
I would just go along with what Mark and Hikerjer already mentioned. Personally, I haven't gotten into fishing yet, at least not in Glacier, so I really can't speak from experience. I have heard that Old Man Lake use to be great fishing, but with the heavy backcountry use Glacier gets, I don't know how true that is anymore. I've seen several fish pulled out of the middle and north fork of the Flathead River, but there isn't much backcountry camping you can do along those.
I have been told numerous stories about some of the deeper, off trail backcountry lakes. Cerulean Lake is one that is constantly recurring. Someone that trapped Wolverines in the park for years told me that it is the best fishing hole in Glacier. But there is no easy way to get there. You would have to hike in to Quartz Lake, use a packraft for several miles to cross the lake, and then bush whack through a lot of bad stuff for a few more miles to get there.
Perhaps Kintla, Bowman, Quartz, and Logging Lake offer some good fishing. I'm kind of surprised nothing is coming to mind of those. Grace Lake doesn't get all that much use, so it might be a good spot. There are 2 lakes above Grace Lake that rarely get seen. There is an old trail that goes up that way, although lots of downfall covers it (NO Matter what, follow that trail). A base camp at Grace Lake though would give you a whole day to explore all 3 of those lakes, plus fishing at Logging Lake on the way in and out.
The Camas Lake drainage is a good one. Trout Lake, Arrow Lake, Camas Lake, Lake Evangeline, and Ruger Lake. You could camp at Arrow or Camas, and fish the others. There is even another lake below those, although I don't remember the name. That was great fishing in the past, but I can't speak on it nowadays. Dutch Lake might be another great option. No one goes up there. The trail is brushy, but pretty easy to follow. The park service will grant you undesignated camping up there. With no one ever going up there, I imagine the fishing has to be good.
Another lake I've heard has good fishing is Lake Isabel, which is a pretty lake. Part of the area is burnt forest, but it's still a beautiful area, and has a few small lakes around it that may offer some better fishing.
Perhaps others can chime in with there experiences. Also, maybe check some of the Glacier Facebook pages, or even email the park backcountry office. There is a Glacier Park forum as well, which might offer some more insight on the fishing.
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climbmda
Trail Ready!
Feelin' good is good enough.
Posts: 14
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Post by climbmda on Dec 22, 2016 12:16:14 GMT -8
Thanks Joey!
I was away for a bit with a medical issue and am back to planning. This is great information for me to digest.
I will start looking at those spots ASAP. Thanks, again.
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